Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-10

washington, and much greater than that
Of all the ether daily papers here added
together.
The difficulty, in view OF the general need Of
and clanor for street Improvements In all parts OF
the city. OF keeping the estimates for such i'm
provements within reasonable bounds mindful OF
other municipal needs and the limited revenues OF
the city, and the difficulty also OF distributing
such appropriations equitabiy between the differ
emit sections to be improved, have been felt both
by the Commissioners and to limited extent by
the citizens subcommittee on streets The esti-
mates for the coming year made by the commits
sionsrs ask for REINFORCEMENT OF city and county
3soo, 919.03 The sub committee ask for improve
ments In the city alone, which, as estimated at
The District building, Will cost III 673, 326. This
amount Is doubtless more than could be applied
TO street Improvement, without denying the DIS
trict additional school buildings, poll smen and
engine houses and sacrificing other important In
tsrests Judging, however from the individual
expressions OF members OF the subcommittee, in
the absence Of all estimates In their report 1t was
not supposed that the improvements suggested
would COST more than q million dollars, and II In
anticipation OF President FendalrS suggestion
there had been consultations and concessions be-
e. tween the subcommittee asking appropriations
the amount requested for street Improvement
would probably haze Appropriated the amount
estimated as necessary for that purpose By the
Commissioners
The improvement appropriation asked by the
Commissioners is appOrtioned between the differ
ent sections according 10 the following percent
ages: Georgetown, IS; northwest 1876: south
west, 1874; southeast, 22.3; northeast, 1876;
county. 5.3. The Improvements asked by the sub
committee are appOrtioned according TO the 10,
lowing percentages: Georgetown. So; northwest
las; southwest, IFS; southeast, 2J9; northeast
323 The two appointments agree In general
way so far as Georgetown, and the southwest and
southeast sections are concerned especially il a
slight reduction be made from the subcommittee
percentages I'm order TO admit OF some expenditure
In the county. The great difference between the
two estimates is found in the amounts proposed
for the northwest and northeast sections The
commissioners propose for the northwest about
onethird OF the whole appropriation, and less than
One-Hxth for the northeast. The sub committee
propose TO reverse the figures and give the north
east about one-thirj and the northwest less than
one-sixth. From Capt. Grifin's report it appears
that the Commissioners are Influenced in the dis
tnbution OF these Improvements by the average
per cent OF assessed valuation, population, area
and streets 10 be improved In each section. In
the tables given the northwest and northeast
compare as follows: Taxable valuation north
west, $7S,525,6s7 northeast s4,9S6, 9Os area,
northwest, 2.720.79 acres: northeast, 1,Oa.;. 10
acres; population, northwest, I07, 433; northeast
square yards, northeast u.s. 331 square yards: per
eentage Of whole appropriation to which each is
entitled on above showing, northwest 514 north
east al. The Commissioners estimates cut dow
largely the per centage To which. according to
These tables, the northwest is entitled but leave
the per centage OF the northeast substantially the
slime, allowing for Slight reduction to provide
for the county, which is not considered in the
tables. The claim OF the northwest toa fair share
OF appropriations based upon q showing that ft
contains over three-f0urthS OF the taxable values
OF The city, nearly one half It's area half It's
population. and more square yards OF street TO be
Improved than any other section is evidently
strong one. There IS another table. however
which ought 10 be prepared AM considered in dis
triout1ng appropriations. This table would show
how much has been actually speut upon the I'M
prOyement of each section in the past and what
percentage OF It's whole surface Is improved For
instance, Is gathered from the tables given that
OF the >, 20 acres In the northwest section only
3-r,JO9 square yards entirely unimproved
while OF the I.0s1 acres in the northeast 49,, s6s
square yards are without improvement. The In
preston prevails that in the past the north
west has secured more than its proper
Tomato share OF appropriations, and if the
idea Is erroneous 10 should be corrected.
Present taxable values and population are not to
De implicitly relied on in distributing these ap-
preparations, because the expenditure OF past ap-
preparations for improvement largely In one To-
cality may have given TO IL IT'S great taxable val
ues and population and thus the bestowaI OF su b
appropriations In the past may become an over
whelming argument for continuing to spend the
improvement money there for all time Other
localities will contend that II they are given a
considerable appropriation for this year they WILL
through that appropriation, have the taxable val
ues and population next year. and pay then for
the expense Of their development. While such
considerations as these may reduce the claim OF
the northwest that IL Is entitled One-halr OF the
CITY appropriation, IT may be doubted whether
Sufficient In opposition TO the Commissioners
tables can be produced TO justify cutting down the
percentage of the northwest 10 lbs per cent and
giving the northeast section nearly one-thIrd OF
the whole appropriation. as proposed by the sub
committee Happily, however, there is little dis
position In the different sections to wrangle and
snari over the estimates, and whatever after fair
friendly and deliberate consideration OF the whole
subject seems TO be the most equitable plan of
distribution, will doubtless be generally advocated
before Congress, and adopted by that body.